NHL Insider Likes Blackhawks For J.T. Miller Trade

The Chicago Blackhawks are not going to be buyers at the trade deadline. They are probably going to be full-blown sellers.

With that said, that doesn’t mean that they would miss an opportunity to add a good player if they are going to be a good player on their team for a long time.

Kyle Davidson has made it clear with his actions that he will acquire people if they help the team develop at the NHL level.

Someone like that could be available as there is a chance that the Vancouver Canucks trade J.T. Miller. They are not sellers. They are likely going to be a playoff team. However, there is legit locker room drama that may force Miller out.

The drama involves Miller not getting along with Canucks forward Elias Pettersson. Both of them are considered to be star players so losing either of them would be tough from a hockey standpoint but it may be necessary.

It is fair to assume that Pettersson is the one that they are going to keep of the two because he’s only 26 years old. Miller is going to be 32 in March.

On his podcast “32 Thoughts”, Elliotte Friedman mentioned the Blackhawks as a team that he “likes” when it comes to acquiring Miller.

Taylor Hall, Tyler Bertuzzi, Nick Foligno, Jason Dickinson, and Teuvo Teravainen are good NHL veterans but none of them play at a high enough level anymore to truly support Connor Bedard.

J.T. Miller is one of those players right now. How long he’ll play at that high of a level remains to be seen but he’d instantly become a top player on the Blackhawks if acquired.

Miller is also signed for the next six seasons after this one at an $8 million cap hit. The final few years of that deal might not be great but he’d help this team grow into a contender as they bring in more young talent in the coming months.

So far, through 28 games played, Miller has six goals and 19 assists for 25 points. Connor Bedard is the only Blackhawk with more points.

Playing with Bedard and being away from his bad situation in Vancouver might help Miller see a jump in points as well. Last season, Miller had 37 goals and 66 assists for 103 points in 81 games played. This issue in Vancouver is affecting his game on the ice.

In addition to the offense that Miller brings to the table, he is also very responsible defensively. He has received Selke votes in four of the previous five seasons.

If Elliotte Friedman is onto something with this feeling of his, it would be a great move for the Blackhawks and Miller. He needs a change of scenery and the Hawks need another good NHL player to insert into the lineup, especially one like J.T. Miller who is a high-end talent in all three zones.

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

Related: Blackhawks Management Must Enjoy Team USA’s Semifinal Appearance